Notification and Publication of Price Changes Made Under General Services Administration Schedule Contracts

There are two types of Federal Supply Schedules, both of which are competitive to some degree. Multiple-award schedule contracts are designed to use industry distribution facilities and provide users with a selection of products from comparable suppliers. Single-award schedules cover contracts made with one supplier at a stated price for delivery to a geographical area and are either formally advertised or noncompetitively negotiated. The multiple-award Federal Supply Schedule system is the method by which the General Services Administration (GSA) awards contracts to more than one supplier for comparable supplies or services. These suppliers are awarded contracts annually and are listed on schedules which are distributed to agencies for use in ordering directly from the contractors. GSA selects contractors from the schedules on the basis of discounts from established commercial pricelists.

Federal property management regulations require that agencies not solicit bids, proposals, and quotations to test the market solely for the purpose of seeking alternative sources to Federal Supply Schedules. Contractors are required to notify GSA when price changes are made under schedule contracts. An examination of 9 office equipment contractor files indicated that, of 23 price reduction notifications, 18 had been made in the required 10 days or less. There are two types of Federal Supply Schedules, both of which are competitive to some degree. Multiple-award schedule contracts are designed to use industry distribution facilities and provide users with a selection of products from comparable suppliers. Single-award schedules cover contracts made with one supplier at a stated price for delivery to a geographical area and are either formally advertised or noncompetitively negotiated.